To be eligible for the University of Ballarat's (UB) Equity & Financial Aid Scholarships you need to be:

• enrolled in your first undergraduate degree, the Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary or Primary), selected Arts Academy TAFE courses or an Indigenous student enrolled in UB's FAST program; and enrolled as a Commonwealth supported student; and
• an Australian citizen or holder of a Permanent Humanitarian Visa; and
• undertaking a full-time load, or have exceptional circumstances for not studying full-time; and
• be able to demonstrate low socio-economic status.

The eligible Arts Academy TAFE courses are:

• Certificate IV in Visual Arts and Contemporary Craft / Koori Program
• Certificate IV of Theatre Arts
• Diploma of Arts (Ceramics)
• Diploma of Arts (Visual Arts)
• Diploma of Live Production, Theatre and Events (Technical Production)
• Diploma of Theatre Arts
• Advanced Diploma of Arts (Graphic Design)
• Advanced Diploma of Live Production, Theatre and Events (Technical Production)
• Advanced Diploma of Music

1. Ordinary-Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships (Ordinary-CECS): $2,162 per annum (indexed) each, to assist with higher education students with general education costs.
2. Ordinary-Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships (Ordinary-CAS): $4,324 per annum (indexed) each, to assist with accommodation costs for higher education students that have had to relocate from a rural or regional area to undertake their study.
3. Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships-Indigenous Enabling (CECS-Indigenous Enabling): $1,081 per teaching period (indexed) each, to assist Indigenous students enrolled in UB's FAST program with general education costs.
4. Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships-Indigenous Enabling (CAS-Indigenous Enabling): $2,162 per teaching period (indexed) each, to assist Indigenous students enrolled in UB's FAST program that have had to relocate from a rural or regional area, with accommodation costs.
5. Indigenous Access Scholarships (IAS): $4,080 each, to assist Indigenous students commencing their undergraduate study at UB or UB's FAST program with accommodation or other higher education expenses by providing a once-only scholarship payment.

1. University of Ballarat Education Costs Scholarships (UBECS): $2,162 each, to assist higher education students with general education costs.
2. University of Ballarat Accommodation Scholarships (UBAS): $4,324 each, to assist higher education students that have had to relocate from a rural or regional area, with their accommodation costs.
3. University of Ballarat School Based Financial Aid Scholarships, to assist higher education students enrolled in the corresponding School or Academy. Students in selected Arts Academy TAFE courses are able to apply for the Arts Academy School Based Financial Aid Scholarships:



• Arts Academy

2 Education Costs Scholarships: $2,162 each
1 Indigenous Scholarship: $2,162
• School of Behavioural and Social Sciences and Humanities

3 Education Costs Scholarships: $2,162 each
• School of Education

2 Education Costs Scholarships: $2,162 each
1 Indigenous Scholarship: $2,162
2 Accommodation Scholarships: $4,324 each
• School of Human Movement and Sport Sciences

1 Education Costs Scholarship: $2,162
1 Accommodation Scholarship: $4,324
• School of Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences

7 Education Costs Scholarships: $2,162 each
• School of Nursing

3* Education Costs Scholarships: $2,162 each
1 Indigenous Scholarship: $2,162
*One reserved for a first year student and one for a second year student
• School of Science and Engineering

12 Education Costs Scholarships: $2,162 each
4. University of Ballarat Dr Mary Atkinson Scholarship: provides an Indigenous higher education student with $5,300 for one year to assist with costs associated with attending University.
5. University of Ballarat Regional Relief Scholarships: $2,162 each, to assist eligible students who live (or whose parents live) in an exceptional circumstances declared area, with the expense of attending University.
6. University of Ballarat Free Equity Computer Scheme: 220 reconditioned desktop computers available to students in financial need.

• Ordinary-CECS and Ordinary-CAS are offered for a maximum of 8 scholarship periods (a scholarship period is a six-month period from either 1 January to 30 June, or 1 July to 31 December), provided the recipient continues to meet ongoing eligibility requirements.
• CECS-Indigenous Enabling and CAS-Indigenous Enabling are offered for a maximum of 2 scholarship periods, provided the recipient continues to meet ongoing eligibility requirements.
• IAS is a once-only payment.
• UBFAS are awarded for one year (2008) provided the recipient continues to meet ongoing eligibility requirements.
• The maximum duration a student can have access to one or more CS is for a total of 8 scholarship periods, except students awarded a CECS-Indigenous Enabling and/or CAS-Indigenous Enabling, who can potentially have access for up to 10 scholarship periods.
• There is no maximum duration a student can have access to one or more UBFAS.

Before applying, check you meet the eligibility criteria. These are listed in the CS Selection & Administration Guidelines, and the UB Financial Aid Scholarship Selection & Administration Guidelines.

You must create a password when you register to use the Application Form. With it, you may login and logout whenever you choose, which means you do not have to complete the Application Form at the one time. Remember your log in and password!

The Application Form can take a while to complete, so don't try to do it in a hurry or at the last minute. The time it takes to complete varies depending on your circumstances, as the form adjusts according to your answers.

In order to complete the application form, you may need (where applicable) the following information:

• your annual or fortnightly income* and type of evidence you will be providing
• your parents'/guardians'/partner's annual or fortnightly income* and type of evidence you will be providing
• the course name and UB School you are enrolled in, or expect to enrol in, in 2008
• the type of Centrelink benefit you receive*
• your parents' university education
• whether you will need/have needed to move from a regional location to attend UB, and how far (in kms)
• how far and how often you expect you will travel to visit immediate family (one way in kms)
• how far you expect you will travel from your term address to University (one way in kms)
• details of degrees or courses completed at UB or other higher education providers

* Family Tax Benefit Part A/B payments are not applicable.

If you are applying for the accommodation scholarships (Ordinary-CAS, CAS-Indigenous Enabling, UBAS or School Based Accommodation Scholarships), you will also need the following information:

• the town and postcode in which you lived for up to four years prior to commencing study at UB; and
• name, town and postcode of the school in which you completed your final two years of high school; or
• years of study and the name of the vocational education and training provider (e.g. TAFE) that you attended immediately prior to commencing study at your higher education UB.

Please note that where incomplete or insufficient documentary evidence is received up to and on Friday 15 February 2008 an email may be sent stating the outstanding information, giving you a chance to send in the required information, however there are no guarantees of this notification.

Allocation of the UBFAS and the Ordinary-CECS and Ordinary-CAS, cannot be made until after the census date (31 March). All applicants will be notified up to six weeks after the census date.

After the success of the pilot scheme in 2007, UB is pleased to offer the UB Free Computer Equity Scheme in 2008. In 2008, 220 free reconditioned desktop computers will be offered to higher education students and Indigenous students enrolled in UB's FAST program. Successful recipients will be issued with a desktop computer after 31 March 2008, and within six weeks of the recipient accepting the conditions of the computer scheme. You may receive a desktop computer as well as a CS or UBFAS.

Please note that it is a desktop computer, NOT a laptop or notebook computer.

After the success of the program in 2007, UB is pleased to offer the UB Regional Relief Scholarships in 2008 (previously called UB Drought Relief Scholarships). In recognition of the worsening impact of the drought, UB is offering the UB Regional Relief Scholarships to students who are (or whose families are) affected by exceptional circumstances.

Students, or their families, who have been affected by "exceptional circumstances" such as drought, and are in receipt currently, or in the last two years, of an 'Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment' from Centrelink, 'Interim Income Support' from Centrelink, or an 'Exceptional Circumstances Interest Subsidy Support' administered by the relevant state authority, may be eligible. If you have been affected by exceptional circumstances such as drought, but not in receipt of an exceptional circumstances payment, you are still eligible to apply for the CS and UBFAS, and consideration will be given to your particular situation.

Payments to successful applicants of the Ordinary-CECS, Ordinary-CAS and UBFAS are made as soon as possible after the census date (31 March and 31 August), and within 6 weeks of the successful applicant accepting the scholarship and conditions of the scholarship. Recipients receive payments in 2 instalments: the first between late April and mid May, and the second in September. (The second instalment is subject to meeting ongoing eligibility criteria.)

Payments to successful applicants of the CECS-Indigenous Enabling and CAS-Indigenous Enabling are made within 6 weeks of the course start date: March for Teaching Period 1 and August for Teaching Period 2.

Payments to successful applicants of the IAS will be made in two instalments. The first payment will be made within 6 weeks of the applicant accepting their scholarship offer and the second payment will be made within 6 weeks of the census date: the first between late March and early April, the second between late April and mid May.

Each payment totals 50% of the annual value of the scholarship and payments are made directly into your nominated bank account. Students residing in UB Halls of Residence can elect to receive their UBFAS in the form of an accommodation fee-waiver.

Scholarship payments may affect your Centrelink payment. This will depend on which scholarship you are awarded:

The Commonwealth Scholarships (CS) are not considered income under the Social Securities Act 1991 and should not affect your Centrelink payment. If you are awarded a CS, it is advisable for you to check with your local Centrelink office to ensure your payments have not been affected.

The University of Ballarat Financial Aid Scholarships (UBFAS) are considered income by Centrelink, and will be included in the income test. You must declare your UBFAS payment as a change of circumstance to Centrelink. However, if you live in UB residences, you may choose to receive your scholarship as an accommodation fee-waiver. In this instance the payment does not count as income and will not affect your Centrelink payment.

The UB Dr Mary Atkinson Scholarship is offered to students Indigenous to Australia. There are also specific Indigenous scholarships offered by the Arts Academy, School of Education and School of Nursing.

In 2008 additional Indigenous CS are being offered. Indigenous Access Scholarships are being offered to commencing students. CECS-Indigenous Enabling and CAS-Indigenous Enabling are being offered to Indigenous Students enrolled in UB's FAST program.

For assistance in completing your application, contact the Aboriginal Education Centre on (03) 5327 9795.

Please note that students on permanent Humanitarian Visa's are eligible to apply.

• a written statement as to why you cannot study full-time; and one of the following:
• a written professional opinion providing assessment of your circumstances, assessment of inability to study full-time, the recommended level of part-time study, and the period of time to which this applies; or
• a written explanation from the Course Coordinator or Head of School explaining how course restraints have precluded you from studying full-time, and the period of time to which this applies.

The written professional assessment may relate to your own personal reasons for being unable to study full-time, such as a disability or medical circumstance. If you are claiming exceptional circumstances for significant caring responsibilities, the assessment may relate to the circumstances of the person to whom you are providing care. You must include an indication of how long you are/will be unable to study full-time, for example "until end September 2008".

The Scholarship Selection Panel will determine whether you are eligible for exceptional circumstances based on the information you provide.

• you can no longer demonstrate low income; or
• you are no longer studying full-time and do not have exceptional circumstances; or
• you moved back to your rural/regional location (and are a recipient of an accommodation scholarship); or
• you have received the maximum number of scholarship payments (maximum Ordinary-CECS and Ordinary-CAS payments is eight each; maximum CECS-Indigenous Enabling, CAS-Indigenous Enabling and UBFAS payments is two); or
• you have been in receipt of one or more CS for the maximum duration allowed. The maximum duration a student can have access to one or more CS is for 8 scholarship periods or 10 scholarship periods if you were previously in receipt of a CECS-Indigenous Enabling and/or CAS-Indigenous Enabling. (You may still access UBFAS); or
• you wish to defer your scholarship for more than the maximum period allowed (12 months at any one time).

Before each payment is made, your ongoing eligibility for the scholarship will be checked. If you do not meet the ongoing eligibility criteria, then your scholarship will be terminated.

To prove your Indigenous status, you will need to print and sign the declaration automatically generated at the end of your online application as documentary evidence. You may also be required to provide further evidence such as confirmation in writing with the common seal from the Chairperson of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incorporated organisation in a community in which you live or have previously lived.

You can receive up to eight payments (two per year for four years) of an Ordinary-CECS and an Ordinary-CAS. You can receive up to two payments of a CECS-Indigenous Enabling and CAS-Indigenous Enabling each and you can only be awarded an IAS once.

• You have worked at least 30 hours a week for at least 18 months in the last two years; or
• You have worked at least 15 hours a week for at least two years since leaving secondary school; or
• You left secondary school at least 18 months ago and have earned at least $18,525 in the 18 months since leaving school; or
• You are, or have been married; or
• You are, or have been living in a marriage-like relationship for 12 months or more; or
• You are, or have been living in a marriage-like relationship for six months or more which ended because your partner died or because of domestic violence; or
• You have, or have had, a dependent child; or
• Your parent/s are unable to exercise their parental responsibilities because they are in a nursing home, are mentally incapacitated, cannot be located or are in jail; or
• You are a refugee; or
• You are an orphan; or
• It is unreasonable for you to live at home because:
• There is extreme family breakdown; or
• There is serious risk if you continue to live in the parental home; or
• You are consistently deprived of basic necessities such as food, water, clothing, power, shelter or sleep; or
• Your health and well-being are seriously threatened by drug or alcohol abuse, criminal or illegal activities; or there is violence in the home; or
• Your parent/s are unable to provide a suitable home because they lack stable accommodation.

If you claim independence, you will need to provide evidence of this accordingly.

CAS: Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (includes Ordinary-CAS and CAS-Indigenous Enabling)

CAS-Indigenous Enabling: Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship-Indigenous Enabling (new in 2008)

CECS: Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (includes Ordinary-CECS and CECS-Indigenous Enabling)

CECS-Indigenous Enabling: Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship-Indigenous Enabling (new in 2008)

Census date: The last date you can withdraw from subjects without incurring costs. For the first scholarship period, the census date is 31 March, for the second scholarship period, the census date is 31 August

Commencing student: A student undertaking a course at entry level for the first time at the University of Ballarat. For the purpose of a CS students undertaking UB's FAST program progressing to an undergraduate degree; will be considered as a commencing student when both starting the FAST program and their undergraduate degree

Course start date: For students commencing study, the actual day the course starts, i.e. the first day of classes

CS: Commonwealth Scholarship

DEST: Department of Education, Science and Training

IAS: Indigenous Access Scholarship (new in 2008)

Indigenous: A person will be considered to be an Indigenous person for the purpose of a CS or UBFAS where the person is a member of the Aboriginal race of Australia or a descendant of the Indigenous inhabitants of the Torres Strait Islands

Ordinary-CAS: Ordinary-Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (previously called CAS)

Ordinary-CECS: Ordinary-Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (previously called CECS)

Permanent address: The address at which you reside whilst not attending University (eg: your home address may be the same as your term address)

Recipient: An eligible student who has accepted and is in receipt of a CS

Scholarship period: A six-month period from either 1 January to 30 June, or 1 July to 31 December

Supplementary Application Form: This appears only when you submit your online Application Form. It contains the list of documentary evidence you must supply, and your declaration that everything you claimed in the application form is true and correct. It must be signed for your application to be considered.

Suspension (of scholarship): A period of time during which a scholarship holder is not receiving scholarship payments

Term address: The address at which you reside whilst attending University (eg: your term address may be the same as your permanent/home address)

UB: University of Ballarat

UBAS: University of Ballarat Accommodation Scholarship

UBECS: University of Ballarat Education Costs Scholarship

UBFAS: University of Ballarat Financial Aid Scholarship